Kandy to Ella,
the slow way up.
Seven hours, eleven stations, and a climb through tea country often called the most beautiful train ride on earth. Reserve your seat class and we'll confirm it with you personally.
WEDNESDAY SPECIAL: An exclusive train operates every Wednesday!
Eleven stations, climbing 1,392 metres into the clouds.
The line leaves Kandy through paddy and Kandyan homesteads, then spends the rest of the day switch-backing up through tea estates until it tips back down into Ella's valley. Scroll through the real stops on the Main Line below.
Hill-capital terminus, departure point
- 01
Kandy
KDYHill-capital terminus, departure point
0 km500 m alt. 
02Peradeniya
PRAJunction for the Royal Botanical Gardens
5 km483 m alt.
03Gampola
GAM24 km555 m alt.
04Nawalapitiya
NAWOld locomotive shed town
39 km548 m alt.
05Watawala
WATTrack begins its steep climb
60 km950 m alt.- 06
Hatton
HATGateway to Adam's Peak & tea country
67 km1,271 m alt. .jpg)
07Nanu Oya
NNOHighest point on the line — for Nuwara Eliya
86 km1,892 m alt.- 08
Ohiya
OHITrailhead for World's End, Horton Plains
108 km1,774 m alt. 
09Haputale
HAPCloud-line ridge views to the south coast
125 km1,431 m alt.
10Bandarawela
BAN135 km1,230 m alt.- 11
Ella
ELLJourney's end — Nine Arch Bridge & Little Adam's Peak
151 km1,041 m alt.
Three ways to ride, choose your view.
Every fare below covers the full run between Kandy and Ella. Boarding at an intermediate station costs proportionally less — your agent will confirm the exact fare on WhatsApp.
First Class — Observation Saloon
Glass-roofed observation carriage at the rear of the train, rotating armchair seating, and the widest windows on the line.
- Reserved, numbered reclining seat
- Panoramic glass roof & rear-facing view
- Air-conditioned, onboard restroom
- Complimentary bottled water
- Luggage rack at every seat pair
Second Class — Reserved
Cushioned reserved seating with large drop-down windows — the classic way locals and travellers alike take this ride.
- Reserved, numbered seat
- Large open-air windows
- Fan-cooled carriage
- Best value for the full highland run
Third Class — Unreserved
Open-door, first-come seating in the classic wooden-bench carriages — stand at the doorway, feel the mountain air.
- Reserved bench seating
- Open carriage doors (the famous photo spot)
- Most economical fare on the line
- Boarding from any intermediate station
Fares shown are indicative and confirmed against live Sri Lanka Railways availability by your agent at the time of booking.
What you'll actually see.
Tap any photograph to open it full-screen — the slideshow keeps moving on its own, or step through it yourself.
Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons contributors, shared under Creative Commons licences.
“One of the most beautiful train rides in the world.”
Kandy — Nanu Oya — Ella, Sri Lanka Hill CountryChoose class & date
Pick your direction, travel date, class, and number of travellers.
Send it on WhatsApp
Your details arrive as a neatly formatted ticket request — one message, nothing to fill twice.
An agent confirms
A real person checks availability and confirms your seat, usually within the hour.
Board with confidence
Arrive at the station with your confirmation in hand — no surprises at the counter.
Fill in your details, we'll take it from there.
There's no live seat map for Sri Lanka Railways reservations yet, so every booking is confirmed personally by our agent on WhatsApp — the same way seasoned travellers have always booked this line.
KANDY ELLATRAIN BOOKING- 1. —
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